Board Chooses Architect

July 21, 1991

The Carroll school board Friday hired Melvin A. Arbaugh of Westminster as the architect for the renovation and addition of MechanicsvilleElementary School at a cost of $193,800.

The firm was chosen frommore than 43 applicants, including four out-of-state firms, said Vernon F. Smith Jr., director of school support services. School staff narrowed the field to six and then a school committee chose two finalists. The staff recommended Arbaugh.

The construction cost of the renovation and addition is estimatedat $4 million. School officials said construction is slated to beginin summer 1992 and the school should be completed in 1994.

Duringthe renovation and addition, school officials said there is a possibility Mechanicsville students will be housed at the Multi-Service Center in Westminster, where a number of portables have been set up to accommodate Sandymount Elementary students during a renovation projectthere this fall.

Mechanicsville Elementary, on Sykesville Road inGamber, was initially constructed as a six-classroom schoolhouse in 1948. Subsequent additions included a nine-classroom/media center wing in 1967 and five additional classrooms in 1974.

New constructionwill add 11,462 square feet to the existing 48,538 square feet. Whencompleted, the school will contain 22 regular classrooms and two kindergarten rooms. The additional space will expand capacity from 450 to 600 students.

The school serves kindergarten through fifth-graders and also serves a local community center for recreation, voting and public meetings.